"Concerned with the human in relation to the non-human, SF could only emerge in thecontext of a culture that articulates crucial aspects of its experience in those terms.Moreover, because it represents a secular transformation of religious concerns, SF couldonly emerge in a context in which the claims of traditional religion were still felt but inwhich belief was at best problematic."

"Since ideas are about reality, in some way or other, it is natural to ask what Lem's storiestell us about the world as he sees it, or as he wants us to see it. This can be unfolded intomany questions. How does he see reality on a basic level Ð as knowable or unknowable, as a place where people (even nonhuman people!) can succeed in their efforts, etc.? How do people come to know this reality Ð through faith or trances or scientific experiments oreveryday experiences? How should they live, both as individuals and in society? SinceLem also deals with political themes, we might also ask: Is there an antagonism betweenpeople and the society they live in? If there is, is it avoidable or necessary?"